Waste water disposal system

ABSTRACT

A waste water disposal system, in particular a sewer system, including a plurality of collecting containers ( 3 ) each divided into a lower space ( 8 ) and an upper space ( 7 ) separated by a partition ( 9 ) including a valve member ( 10 ) therein. Sewer connections ( 1 ) are connected to the upper spaces ( 7 ) of the plurality of collecting containers ( 3 ) via supply pipes ( 2 ). A discharge pipe ( 5 ) is connected to the lower spaces ( 8 ) of the collecting containers ( 3 ), and a pressure pipe ( 13 ) including a compressed air source ( 16 ) is connected to the lower spaces ( 8 ) of the collecting containers ( 3 ). A control system ( 12 ) provides for the selective emptying of the collecting containers ( 3 ) into the discharge pipe ( 5 ) by introducing compressed air into the collecting containers ( 3 ) via the pressure pipe ( 13 ). The pressure pipe ( 13 ) and the discharge pipe ( 5 ) are separate pipes, and the collecting containers ( 3 ) are interconnected in parallel between the pressure pipe ( 13 ) and the discharge pipe ( 5 ) to which they are connected via connecting pipes ( 4,14 ). The connecting pipe ( 4 ) of the discharge pipe ( 5 ) of each collecting container ( 3 ) runs upwardly from a level near the bottom of the collecting container ( 3 ) and is connected to the discharge pipe ( 5 ) at a higher level. The compressed air source ( 16 ) is connected to provide compressed air simultaneously to all connecting pipes ( 14 ) to force waste water through the connecting pipes ( 4 ) and the discharge pipe ( 5 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a waste water disposal systemcomprising waste water connections which are connected to a number ofcollecting spaces via supply pipes, a discharge pipe connected to saidcollecting spaces, a pressure pipe comprising a compressed air source,which is connected to said collecting spaces, and a control system forselectively emptying said collecting spaces into the discharge pipe byintroducing compressed air into the collecting spaces via said pressurepipe.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Such a waste water disposal system configured as a sewage system is forexample known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,016. With this known sewagesystem an air compressor is connected to one of the collecting spacesvia the pressure pipe. The collecting space is furthermore connected toa next collecting space via the discharge pipe, and in this manner thecollecting spaces are connected in series, with the discharge piperunning from the last collecting space in the series connection to adischarge point. When one of the collecting spaces is filled to apredetermined level, the compressor or other compressed air source areturned on and all collecting spaces are emptied.

The object of the invention is to further improve this known waste waterdisposal system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to accomplish that objective the waste water disposal systemaccording to the invention is characterized in that the pressure pipeand the discharge pipe are separate pipes, and that the collectingspaces are interconnected in parallel between the pressure pipe and thedischarge pipe, to which they are connected via connecting pipes.

As a result of this parallel-connection of the collecting spacesrelative to the pressure pipe and the discharge pipe a more reliablesystem featuring a reduced energy consumption is obtained. Saidreliability is achieved in that one collecting space may exhibit adefect when a parallel arrangement is used, whilst it will still bepossible in that case to empty the other collecting spaces. The energyconsumption can be reduced since it can be arranged that only acollecting space which is filled to said predetermined level will beemptied.

In order to arrange in a simple manner that only one collecting spacewill be emptied, the invention proposes to incorporate a non-returnvalve in the connecting pipe between each collecting space and thedischarge pipe, which non-return valve closes in the direction of thecollecting space. In this manner it is also possible to prevent theoccurrence of a pressure loss in the discharge pipe. To that end it isfurthermore advantageous that the non-return valves are closed in theposition of rest and that they will only open when pressure is suppliedfrom the associated collecting space.

The individual emptying of the collecting spaces can in particular bepractically realised when each collecting space has an air valveconnected to the control system incorporated in the connecting pipe onthe side of the pressure pipe, whilst the control system is arranged forindividually operating the various air valves.

It is noted that each collecting space may be fitted with its own airvalve, but that is also possible for several collecting spaces to beprovided with one common air valve.

Furthermore it is conceivable to maintain a constant overpressure in thepressure pipe, whilst it is also possible to build up pressure in thepressure pipe anew each time a collecting space is to be emptied.

Another advantage of the waste water disposal system according to theinvention is that it allows a greater freedom of design. Thus it is nolonger necessary to dispose the compressed air source at the beginningof a series arrangement. It is possible to disposed a compressed airsource at a random location in the pressure pipe according to theinvention, whilst it is also possible to connect several compressed airsources to one pressure pipe. Also the discharge pipe may be providedwith a discharge point at a random location, whilst it is alsoconceivable to provide several discharge points.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with referenceto the drawing, which shows a waste water disposal system according tothe invention in the form of a sewage system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic a plan view of one embodiment of the sewagesystem according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a larger-scale, schematic vertical section of one of thecollecting spaces of the sewage system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a number of houses or other types ofbuildings or sewage connections 1 comprising a supply pipe 2, with oneor more of said sewage connections being connected to a collecting space3. At the discharge end each collecting space 3 is connected, via aconnecting pipe 4 fitted with a non-return valve 17, to a commondischarge pipe 5, which connects collecting spaces 3 with one another.Discharge pipe 5 may be closed at one end, or be connected to one of thecollecting spaces 3, and be connected at its other end to a sewage pipe6 having a larger diameter, or to another discharge point. Alternativelydischarge pipe 5 may comprise a discharge point at another location, oreven comprise several discharge points.

As FIG. 2 shows, each collecting space 3 includes an upper space 7, towhich supply pipe 2 is connected, and a lower space 8, which is incommunication with discharge pipe 5 via connecting pipe 4. Upper andlower spaces 7, 8, whose respective capacities are in the proportion of1:1 or 1:2, for example, are separated from each other by a partition 9comprising a valve 10, a self-closing valve in this case. This impliesthat sewage water flowing into collecting space 3 can flow from upperspace 7 to lower space 8, via connecting pipe 2, until lower space 8 isfilled, after which valve 10 will close and upper space 7 will befilled. Present in upper space 7 is a level gauge or level switch 11, bymeans of which a signal can be delivered to a control system 12 toindicate that a collecting space 3 is filled to a level which requiresemptying. A cable 18 for control system 12 can be laid simultaneouslywith the installation of the sewage system, via which cable thecommunication between a central control unit and signalling and warningmeans and elements to be operated in the various collecting spaces 3takes place.

A pressure pipe 13 to be used in the emptying of collecting spaces 3 hasbeen installed, which pressure pipe is connected by means of connectingpipes 14 to the various collecting spaces 3, and that to the lowerspaces 8 thereof. In the present case an air valve 15 is incorporated ineach connecting pipe 14, which valve can selectively open or closeconnecting pipe 14 for selectively placing a collecting space 3 intocommunication with pressure pipe 13 for the purpose of emptying saidcollecting space. The pressure in pressure pipe 13 is generated by meansof one or more compressed air sources 16, such as an air compressor,which are disposed at a selected advantageous location.

From the arrangement shown in the Figure it will be apparent thatcollecting spaces 3 are interconnected in parallel relative to dischargepipe 5 and pressure pipe 13. This makes it possible to respectivelyempty only one collecting space or a group of collecting spaces.

A practical embodiment of the collecting space and the connections is anembodiment wherein connecting pipe 4 of discharge pipe 5 and connectingpipe 14 of pressure pipe 14 enter collecting space 3 through the wall ofupper space 7 at a relatively high level, from which they extend tolower space 8 via partition 9. Partition 9 may thereby be provided witha plate fitted in a seat of collecting space 3, in which plate valve 10is incorporated. An annular area surrounding valve 10 may be used forsealingly passing connecting pipes 4 and 14 therethrough. The plate maybe retained in the seat by means of a large spring washer. This mannerof connecting makes it easier to build collecting space 3, which isconfigured as a catch pit, into the ground, since the connections arelocated near the upper side of collecting space 3, running internallyfrom the collecting space to the desired level.

The operation of the sewage system is as follows. Collecting spaces 3are gradually filled, whereby one collecting space may fill more quicklythan the other. When the level gauge 11 present in the upper space ofone collecting space 3 indicates that the predetermined level has beenreached, a signal will be transmitted to control system via cable 18.The control system responds to said signal by delivering a controlsignal to air valve 15 of the collecting space 3 in question, as aresult of which said air valve 15 will open. As a result of this thepressure prevailing in pressure pipe 13, which is maintained orgenerated by pressure source 16, is admitted into lower space 8 of saidcollecting space 3. This results in the pressurization of the lowerspace 8 closed by valve 10, and sewage water present therein will beforced to discharge pipe 5 via the non-return valve 17 present inconnecting pipe 4, which has been opened by said pressure. Dischargepipe 5 carries the sewage water to discharge point 6. The sewage wateror the compressed air cannot enter the other collecting spaces 3thereby, due to the fact that the non-return valves thereof are closed.When air valve 15 is closed again, the pressure in lower space 8 willfall and valve 10 in partition wall 9 will be opened by the weight ofthe water present in upper space 7, and water can flow from upper space7 into lower space 8. Valve 10 remains opened until lower space 8 isfilled again.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides anadequately, efficiently and reliably operating waste water disposalsystem. The invention is not limited to the embodiment which has beendescribed above and which is illustrated in the drawing, to whichseveral variations are possible within the scope of the invention. Thusthe invention may also be used with a combined sewage system.Furthermore the invention may be used with various other types of wastewater disposal systems. It is also possible to incorporate not one butseveral collecting spaces within one branch of the parallel arrangementof collecting spaces, which will form a series arrangement circuit inthat case.

What is claimed is:
 1. A waste water disposal system comprising a plurality of collecting containers (3) each divided into a lower space (8) and an upper space (7), said lower and upper spaces (8, 7) are separated by a partition (9) comprising a valve member (10) therein, waste water connections (1) connected to the upper spaces (7) of the plurality of collecting containers (3) via supply pipes (2), a discharge pipe (5) connected to the lower spaces (8) of said collecting containers (3) via connecting pipes (4), a pressure pipe (13), a compressed air source (16) connected to said collecting containers (3) via connecting pipes (14), and a control system (12) for selectively emptying said collecting containers (3) into the discharge pipe (5) by introducing compressed air into the lower spaces (8) of the collecting containers (3) via said pressure pipe (13), wherein the pressure pipe (13) and the discharge pipe (5) are separate pipes, the collecting containers (3) are interconnected in parallel between the pressure pipe (13) and the discharge pipe (5) via the connecting pipes (4, 14), the connecting pipe (4) of the discharge pipe (5) of each collecting container (3) runs upwardly from a level near the bottom of said collecting container (3) and is connected to discharge pipe (5) at a higher level, and the compressed air source (16) is connected to provide compressed air simultaneously to all connecting pipes (14) to force the waste water through the connecting pipes (4) and through the discharge pipe (5).
 2. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1, wherein said connecting pipes (4, 14) for the pipes (5, 13) run upwardly from a level near the bottom of the collecting container to a desired level and the connections for connecting said connecting pipes (4, 14) to said pipes (5, 13) are located near the upper side of said collecting container.
 3. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1 further comprising a non-return valve (17) incorporated in the connecting pipe between each collecting container (3) and the discharge pipe (5), which non-return valve closes in the direction of the collecting container.
 4. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1, comprising at least one air valve (15) between one or more collecting containers (3) for selectively placing the pressure in the pressure pipe (13) into communication with the collecting containers (3).
 5. A waste water disposal system according to claim 4, wherein each collecting container (3) is provided with an air valve (15) in the connecting pipe (14) on the side of the pressure pipe (13), which air valve is connected to the control system (12).
 6. A waste water disposal system according to claim 4, wherein the control system (12) is arranged for individually operating the various air valves (15).
 7. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1, wherein each collecting container (3) is provided with a level gauge (11) connected to the control system (12).
 8. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1, wherein a number of compressed air sources (16) are connected to the pressure pipe (13) at different locations.
 9. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1 wherein said discharge pipe (5) comprises a number of discharge points (6).
 10. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1, wherein each collecting container (3) comprises a backflow arrangement.
 11. A waste water disposal system according to claim 1, wherein said discharge pipe (5) and said pressure pipe (13) are connected to said lower space (8) via said partition (9), entering the collecting container (3) at a high level through the wall of said upper space (7). 